Group C-1

Lab A2 Report
Katherine Osborn, Kathryn Nguyen, Taylor Hoang, and Lam Pham
27 January 2022

Lab A2
Introduction
Last week in lab A1 we modeled balls attached to each other with springs, which were fixed
at either end of the system. When we calculated and graphed the motion of the balls, we found
the motion to be a sinusoidal trend, with each ball following the same motions, each lagging
behind the other. This is known as simple harmonic motion.
The physical model of the
balls attached by a string is
shown to the left. Notice that
each ball is fixed in its horizontal
position, but is free to move
vertically. If we focus on one ball
individually, we can see that
because it is fixed horizontally,
all of the motion occurs in that
one area. This is similar to a
standing wave. A standing wave is a wave that mimics a sinusoidal wave, but the wave does
not appear to move throughout the medium. This means that the maximum vertical
displacement occurs at the same spot each cycle; these are considered the antinodes and are
represented by the balls on the spring. On a standing wave there are also nodes, where no
vertical displacement occurs. Standing waves occur in a medium when the frequency is equal to
a whole
Number multiple of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental frequency is the lowest
possible frequency of vibration of an object or medium. Nodes occur at integers of the
fundamental frequency, given by fm = (mv) / (2L), where L is the length of the string, v is velocity,
and m is the mode number, which is equal to the number of antinodes. Nodes will occur where
f1 = mfm.
In this lab we set out to determine if the similarities between the balls on a spring and a
standing wave could be mathematically and physically modeled. In order to accomplish this, we
studied the question of how differing tensions affect the fundamental frequency.

Methods
Variables:
-Variables: tension (T), frequency of string, number of nodes, wavelengths, linear density and
string length(98.5cm)-1st part
-The variables are frequency(Hz)-(mode=1,2,3), number of balls(50), mass of ball(0.5kg), and
spring constant (K)- 2nd part

Procedure:
-To test this experiment, we would first have 5 different mass sets to weigh on the string(0g,
100g, 200, 300, and 400g). On the device, we would set the amplitude to the max for safety
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Lab A2 Report
concern and to see the number of modes better. Then we would turn on the device and increase
the number of frequencies(turning it up) until we see the number of modes that we want(1, 2
and 3). Then we would record the frequency. We would repeat this 3 times for each mass.

For the second part we are calculating wavelength and use wave speed to linearize. We would
use Python and in the program we will set a specific K constant of 1,2,3,4,5. Then at a specific
constant we would randomly choose a frequency to see if it gives a mode number that we
wanted(m=1,2,3). After we found the frequency we would record it down and do this for all K
values and for all 3 different numbers of modes. The value for number of balls (50) and
mass(0.5kg) are constant for all the experiments.

Uncertainty:
-Instrumental uncertainty: +/-0.005Hz (0.5 smallest increment)
-Random uncertainty: The measurement was repeated 3 times. To find random uncertainty, ¼
was multiplied to the difference between the max and min values of the frequency for m=1,2,3.
+/-0.125Hz (m=1)
+/-0.1Hz(m=2)
+/-0.125Hz(m=3)

Results

Measurements from physical setup:

Frequency (Hz), m=1

Mass (g) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

0 8.1 8.5 8.6

100 14.9 15.4 15.6

200 19.9 20.2 21.1

300 24.6 23.0 24.4

400 30.1 30.1 30.2

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Lab A2 Report

Frequency (Hz), m=2

Mass (g) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

0 17.9 17.5 17.5

100 29.9 29.9 30.6

200 39.9 40.6 41.2

300 55.8 57.0 55.5

400 65.3 65.2 65.1

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Lab A2 Report

Frequency (Hz), m=3

Mass (g) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

0 26.2 26.0 26.5

100 46.3 47.0 47.9

200 61.8 63.0 64.2

300 85.6 85.8 85.4

400 95.9 96.1 95.8

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Lab A2 Report
Measurements from stimulation setup:

K Constant (N/m) Frequency (Hz), m=1 Frequency (Hz), m=2 Frequency (Hz), m=3

1 0.015 0.030 0.045

2 0.020 0.040 0.060

3 0.025 0.050 0.075

4 0.030 0.060 0.090

5 0.035 0.070 0.105

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Lab A2 Report

Conclusion:

In the first part of our experiment, we manipulated the mass on the end of the string in order to
see if tension affects the frequency at which different standing waves occur (m=1, m=2, and
m=3). For trials using the same mass, our trials indicated a linear relationship between standing
wave number and frequency at which that harmonic occurs. With this supporting data, the
model: fm = mf1 holds true in determining the frequency where a standing wave will occur if given
the fundamental frequency and m. Across different masses, our results indicate that there is a
positive correlation between fundamental frequency and mass, but the relationship is not exactly
linear. This relationship is explained by the model: f1 = (v) / (2L) which calculates fundamental
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Lab A2 Report
frequency, where v = sqrt(T/u). As both of these models fit our data, we can conclude that these
models are valid in real world simulations.

In the second part of our experiment, we modeled a similar concept using a simulated string of
balls with springs in between them. In changing the spring constant, k, we were able to change
the tension. Doing this yielded similar results, where the frequency and fundamental frequency
could be related by fm = mf1 due to their linear relationship. However, the k constant and
fundamental frequency have a positive, linear correlation. The difference between this and our
first experiment can be attributed to the fact that the simulation follows a model, so the numbers
are perfect every time. Also, spring constant and weight on the end of a string do not have the
exact same relationship.

Our data was not perfectly attuned to the models, as evidenced by the small amount of variation
that occurred with each trial. This is likely because of air resistance altering how the waves
interfere with each other, as well as the fact that there was a mass already attached to the end
of the string, since this was the only way we could get additional masses to attach. In future
trials, we could maybe find a way to directly attach the masses to the end of the string, so that
we can gain a true understanding of the relationship between tension and frequency of standing
waves.